The NetworkObjects data layer integrates network resource information from various external systems, including
- Network Management Systems (NMS)
- Inventory Management Systems (IMS)
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Configuration Management Systems
NetworkObjects uses a ETL (Extract, Transform & Load) approach for transferring the data from the client systems into the NetworkObjects warehouse. The ETL module implements client system specific components (probes) that enable NetworkObjects to interface with common commercial systems. Direct data entry into the NetworkObjects warehouse is supported for specific or custom designed applications (e.g. in case the service provider lacks the appropriate client systems). Probes for the following commercial systems are currently supported:
- Alcatel-Lucent optics based on 1354 RM.
- Alcatel-Lucent service routers and omniswitch based on 5620 SAM
- Alcate-Lucent access products (ISAM, ASAM, FTTH/GPON) based on IDM
- Adva based on FSP NM and SNMP
- Ciena based on ON-Center
- Ericsson/Marconi based on TMF814
- Huawei based on T2000/U2000
- Nortel pruducts based on TMF interfaces
- Transmode based on TMN
- MRV based on Megavision
- Amdocs Cramer Resource Manager.
- More Systems supporting the MTOSI XML solution set (according to TMF 854)
- More Systems supporting the Corba TFM 814
Click here for list of vendor interfaces
The warehouse stores network resource information at different moments in time. Beyond the current state of the client systems (e.g. the current state of a network), the warehouse can handle past and future states of the client systems (e.g. for analysis of the history of a network resource or for planning of future resources).
The databases are open to external 3rd party applications through standard SQL. The preferred database technology for NetworkObjects is mySQL. The database server can be deployed on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems.